Britain is basking in glorious 80F temperatures today with Indian Summer conditions sending the mercury soaring – before it all comes to an end on Tuesday.
Forecasters are predicting possible amber weather warnings in place by early next week and what could be the first named storm of the season.
Most parts of the UK enjoyed warm sunshine today, but temperatures are set to plunge in the coming days with the possibility Storm Aiden could hit.
Heavy rain and possible winds of up to 65mph could signal the end of the recent Indian Summer, and threats of more lockdowns mean this weekend could have been the last time this year Britons were able to enjoy decent weather.
Up to 100,000 weekend visitors rushed to Brighton with highs hotter than the 73F Algarve and nudging 80F.
The temperatures, which are expected to last until Monday, come as Spain’s Subtropical Storm Alpha pushes warm air towards Britain.
People enjoy the warm weather on Brighton Beach on Sunday. Britain’s 80F Indian Summer will be blasted away by a 65mph 800 mile-wide storm and a ‘polar plume’ threatening one of England’s earliest snowfalls for a century
People enjoy the weather at Brighton Beach today. 100,000 weekend visitors rushed to Brighton with highs hotter than the 73F Algarve
Cyclists enjoy the empty country lanes this afternoon. ‘Autumn proper’ is on the way as an Atlantic storm sees washouts hit the North on Tuesday and the South as well from Wednesday
Durdle Door was looking busy this afternoon as tourists made the most of the warm weather and paid a visit to the Dorset coast
Visitors turned out at Durdle Door on the Dorset coast this afternoon to enjoy the sunshine before ‘autumn proper’ arrives next week
Hundreds of people sit at the tables outside restaurants in Soho, central London, as the Government warns Britain is at a ‘tipping point’
But ‘autumn proper’ is on the way as an Atlantic storm sees washouts hit the North on Tuesday and the South as well from Wednesday.
The Met Office forecasts gales in the West and a buffeting until Thursday.
65mph gusts in the West are shown on forecast models. MeteoGroup said the storm could be named Aiden, Britain’s first named storm of autumn.
Polar air follows with chilly 16C highs on Thursday and just 14C on Friday and the weekend in the South, with 11-12C in the North.
The Met Office warned of frost and gales in the North.
Today, daytrippers clogged up coastal routes including the A23 to Brighton, A31 to Dorset and A30 to Cornwall, as hundreds rushed to the nation’s beauty spots to soak up the sun rays.
Hordes of Britons were spotted enjoying the warm weather on Brighton Beach while others were seen riding their bikes through a sunny Oxfordshire.
On the Dorset coast, Durdle Door was bustling with people this afternoon and some visitors even swam through the tourist attraction’s famed arch while Brighton is estimated to have seen 100,000 daily visitors and Bournemouth 50,000.
Elsewhere hundreds of people sat at tables outside restaurants in Soho, central London, today to enjoy the Indian Summer conditions.
Supermarkets also witnessed a rush in buyers, with Tesco set to have sold 300,000 sausage packs, 250,000 ice creams and lollies and two million cans or bottles of beer, sales trends showed.
The scenes came just a day after hundreds of tourists flocked to Blackpool to enjoy the town’s famous Illuminations which are on display until January.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Deputy Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary Terry Woods said: ‘Going to Blackpool, if you’re not from Blackpool, this weekend and mingling in any large crowds, that is not looking after my family and it wouldn’t be looking after your family.
Crowds of people sit at the tables outside restaurants in Soho to back in the sunshine and warm weather in London
People enjoy the warm weather on Brighton Beach. 65mph gusts in the West are shown on forecast models. MeteoGroup said the storm could be named Aiden, Britain’s first named storm of autumn
Crowds pack onto Brighton Beach this afternoon as meteorologists warn that ‘autumn proper’ will be on the way from next week
Customers sit at tables outside restaurants and bars in the capital’s Soho as hundreds pour onto the streets to enjoy the watm weather
A restaurant worker wears a mask as she serves customers seated outside a restaurants in Soho, central London
A man basks in the warm weather on Brighton Beach today. Polar air follows with chilly 16C highs on Thursday and just 14C on Friday and the weekend in the South, with 11-12C in the North
People enjoy the warm weather on the promenade in Brighton. Beaches were busy this weekend. Brighton was expected to have seen 100,000 daily visitors, with 50,000 at Bournemouth
Durdle Door was bustling on Sunday afternoon as people made the most of the warm weather at the popular tourist site
Colourful swimmers make their way through the Durdle Door arch on Sunday afternoon. Daytrippers clogged up coastal routes including the A23 to Brighton, A31 to Dorset and A30 to Cornwall
Customers bask in the sunshine and enjoy the rising temperatures as they sit at tables outside restaurants in Soho
People sit outside a restaurant in Soho as Britain basks in glorious 80F temperatures today with Indian Summer conditions sending the mercury soaring
Hundreds of people pour onto the streets in Soho, central London, today as most parts of the UK enjoy warm sunshine
Customers enjoy their lunch while sat at tables outside restaurants in Soho, London, today as the Government fears the rise of a second wave of coronavirus
‘What we need to do is focus in on protecting yourself and your family. Make sensible decisions to protect yourselves, going to Blackpool in mass numbers is quite the opposite of protecting yourselves.’
It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock today warned that Britain was at a ‘tipping point’ in its battle against a second devastating wave of coronavirus.
Explaining that the Government could not rule out putting the whole nation into a second total lockdown, he told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show: ‘This country faces a tipping point.
‘We have a choice, and the choice is if everybody follows the rules and does the self-isolation if they need to, follows the rule of six, which is really simple and clear, and the basics, hands, face and space, then we can avoid further measures.
‘But the alternative to that choice is that we will have to bring in more action. And we don’t want to do that, but every single person has a part to play in this and everybody watching has a choice: do you follow the rules or not? And if everybody follows the rules, then we’ll be able to get the virus under control.’
MeteoGroup forecaster Ravi Kotecha said: ‘Subtropical Storm Alpha may push warmth towards the UK into Monday.
‘It’s possible Wednesday’s Atlantic low pressure system could be a named storm. Rain and brisk winds are expected.’
A waitress wears a face mask as she brings drinks to people sat outside a cafe in Soho, in London, this afternoon
Groups of people sit at the tables outside restaurants in Soho today as the capital enjoys glorious sunshine and warm weather
People looking for the perfect place for a selfie on the top of cliffs at Durdle Door on Sunday
A man takes his dog for a swim in the sea in Brighton. Daytrippers clogged up coastal routes including the A23 to Brighton, A31 to Dorset and A30 to Cornwall
People enjoy the warm weather on Brighton Beach. Daytrippers clogged up coastal routes including the A23 to Brighton, A31 to Dorset and A30 to Cornwall
People enjoy the warm weather on Brighton Beach. MeteoGroup forecaster Ravi Kotecha said: ‘Subtropical Storm Alpha may push warmth towards the UK into Monday’
Cyclists enjoy the empty country lanes on a sunny afternoon in Oxfordshire on Sunday. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: ‘The Atlantic jetstream will power up and bring a big change to rain and wind’
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: ‘The Atlantic jetstream will power up and bring a big change to rain and wind.
‘And forecast models show much cooler air arriving.’
A Met Office forecaster said: ‘Rain and strengthening winds with possible gales in the West are expected on Wednesday, with further rain and windy conditions through the rest of the week, when the North may see gales.
‘Temperatures will be cool and frost may be seen in parts of the North.’